03: Schroedingers Cat – Quantum versus Classical World?

Quantum mechanics is a very powerful theory that gives extremely precise predictions. It became the basis for modern high technology such as semiconducters, and thus computers, or lasers. However, this success came with a heavy price: Things happen at the micro-scopic realm that conflict with our ordinary notions of space, time and causality. Worse, the theory’s predic-tions fail at the macroscopic level.
In this course we will introduce some basic concepts like objective probability, superposition, entanglement, and Bell’s theorem. Then we will describe, in a non-technical manner, a variety of paradoxes associated with QM, and several surprising experiments as well as some pos-sible interpretations. We will include both real experi-ments like double-slit interference and thought experi-ments like Schroedinger’s cat paradox. This will lead to the discussion of technological promises including quantum cryptography and quantum computation. Finally we will also analyze quantum teleportation.